In the wake of a tough loss in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour emphasized the need for his team to adapt against the Florida Panthers' notorious physical play. This was highlighted by Sebastian Aho's roughing penalty early in the game, which shifted momentum to the Panthers, who capitalized on the power play. Brind'Amour pointed out that retaliation penalties could be detrimental, stating that while the Hurricanes managed to avoid most retaliations, a single lapse could change the game. The team must focus on minimizing mistakes, especially as they face a formidable Panthers squad that is adept at capitalizing on errors.

Despite falling 5-2 in Game 1, the Hurricanes had previously shown resilience in their playoff performances, with a perfect record when scoring first. The Panthers' effective power play performance caught Carolina off-guard, as the Hurricanes had previously allowed few power-play goals. Players like Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere acknowledged the need to maintain composure and leverage game strategy effectively as they prepare for Game 2. Captain Staal noted that Florida's ability to take advantage of Carolina's mistakes is a challenge that needs to be addressed.